Bellator 256 sees Nainoa Dung returning to the cage after taking a loss (via leg kicks) at Bellator 243 in 2020. Dung is 3-2 in his five professional fights, but is only 22 years of age, and believes he has yet to showcase his full potential. Competing under Bellator since he was 19 years old, Dung has taken every bump in the road as a lesson.
“I’m young, I got signed early,” Dung began, speaking to Cageside Press recently. “Around 19 years old Bellator signed me to a four fight deal so I’m jumping straight into the big leagues. I’m learning as I grow, get older, the more fights the more I learn,” Dung continued. “I can’t wait to get back in there.”
Being so young, and on a skid, Dung felt he needed to change up his training, to focus in on a broadened look of MMA. Dung in a sense went back to basics, and he is confident that he can showcase the best version of himself come fight night.
“A lot of it, it is weird, I felt like I had to change a lot of things,” Dung told Cageside Press. “I actually went back to the basics, back to what I did to get here. It’s a crazy game, I’m learning as I grow. This fight right here will show the full potential of Nainoa Dung.”
Set to face off against Izzy William (4-3) whose last two losses have come at the hands of current UFC fighters (Orion Cosce, Jordan Leavitt). William is 11 years the elder to Dung, and is making his promotional debut.
“He comes from a good camp,” Dung stated. “Trains at Stipe Miocic team. Those guys in Cleveland are tough, but Hawaii has some of the toughest fighters, and some of the best strikers in the world,” Dung continued. “I look to add Nainoa Dung to the names of Hawaii fighters representing.”
As for a prediction, Dung feels William will quickly look to get this fight far from standing.
“Every opponent, striker or not, they turn into a wrestler,” Dung explained. “If he shoots we will see what happens, but I look forward to this fight start on the feet.”
